Elongated air diffuser



March 8, W66

Filed Feb. 2, 1962 C. N. ODAY ETAL ELONGATED AIR DIFFUSER i rr 1M Wim 5 Sheets-Sheet l ull! A TTM/v5 y ff-J c. N. o'DAY ETAL 3,238,860

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INVENTORS United States Patent Oce Patented Mar. 8, 1966 3,238,860 EIJONGATEI) AIR DIFFUSER Cortland N. lDay, Port Washington, and George I.

Sweeney, Plandome, NPY., assignors to Air Devices, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Yori( Filed Feb. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 170,575 4 Claims. (Cl. 98-40) The present invention relates to an air diffuser, and it particularly relates to an elongated `air diffuser having a plurality of elongated passageways designed to supply conditioned or Ventilating air to a room, space or enclosure.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a novel elongated air diffuser `air construction in which the frame to be mounted in the wall, ceiling or sill may be conveniently made at minimum expense or metal parts readily assembled together and having a removable or detachable core structure.

Another object is to provide `an elongated air diffuser in which the metal parts thereof may be readily made of lightweight metal and a few parts and which may be readily mounted in a wall or ceiling.

Still further objects or advantages will appear in the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood, however, that this more detailed description is given by way of illustration and explanation only and not by way of limitation, since various changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

In accomplishing the above objects, it has been found most satisfactory according to one embodiment of the present invention to provide exterior and interior frame structures both formed of extruded sheet metal desirably of aluminum or aluminum alloy with the outer frame being of elongated rectangular shape and having a ledge and recess to receive detachably the interior diffuser unit.

The diffuser unit itself may consist of a plurality of elongated strips carried upturned from the body thereof obliquely disposed diffusing veins which act as spacers and separators between the strips and which are desirably joined together by transverse holder rod members held in position by suitable washers or clips at the ends thereof of the interior frame structure.

Desirably, the frame structures are held together at the corners by means of angle insert members which fit into elongated recesses or grooves on the extruded interior and exterior frame members.

Both the exterior and interior frame members are held together by such grooves and inserts which are then locked into position.

Desirably the elongated grooves may also be employed for holding gaskets to provide an airtight fit or connection.

The inside frame may also carry spring clip members attached to the interior side walls which extend through holder slots or stop slots in the outer frame structure which limits the expense of the clips.

These clips are desirably employed by coiling the central portions thereof around bolts or metal screws attached to the side walls of the interior construction which legs then extend upwardly through and past inwardly directed flange portions of the external frame structure.

These clips may be bent together to enable engagement thereof which the exterior mounting frame whereupon the out-turned ends of the legs will serve as stop members if the interior frame is to be lowered.

By pressng the clips together, the outturned ends of the legs may be caused to clear the slots and clear the frames altogether.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention Consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. l is a top plan View of an elongated diuser looking from the exterior of the wall according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an interior elevational view of the diffuser in the outside frame looking from the interior of the wall.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view upon an enlarged scale upon the line 3 3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3a is a fragmentary alternative view showing the use of a 'lf-head member at the center of the elongated structure as an alternative shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3b is a fragmentary separated perspective View showing the attachment of the through holder rods in connection with the washers attached thereto to hold them in position.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary end transverse sectional view taken upon the line 4 4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top perspective View of an end portion of the exterior alternative frame structure which is mounted in the wall, ceiling or sill.

FIG. 5a is a perspective View showing the corner connection for the external frame structure which also may be duplicated for the internal frame structure.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional View similar to FIG. 3 showing an alternative frame structure.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary end transverse sectional view similar to FIG. 4 showing the end structure of the embodiment of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a transverse vertical sectional View similar to FIG. 4 but upon a smaller scale as compared to FIG. 4 showing the mounting of the elongated diffuser and also an actuating connection which may be utilized for operating a damper to close or open an interior duct arrangement.

FIG. 9 is a transverse vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 8 in which the parallel elongated baffle passageways have been recessed into the device below the face thereof and in which there is a central elongated T-shaped bai-lle extending the full length thereof.

FIG. l() is a transverse sectional view similar to FIGS. 8 and 9 and upon the same scale as FIGS. 8 and 9 showing an alternative arrangement in which a series of oblique battles are utilized with the parallel passageways being positioned substantially below the exterior face of the elongated diffuser construction and also showing a lateral extension of the spring wire clips.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are a group of diagrammatic sectional views upon a small scale as compared to FIG. 10, indicating alternative arrangements of oblique baffles as compared to the arrangement of FIG. l0.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, there is shown the side extruded members A which form the exterior sides of the frame structure B.

The connecting end portions C of the exterior frame may be of the same construction and cross section as the side members B except those cut in shorter sections.

It will be noted by reference to FIGS. l and 3 that the ends of the sections A and B are cut as at a 45 degree angle at D and abutted together.

The corners E as indicated in FIG. 5 may be welded or otherwise connected together so as to form the rectangular structure.

The inside removable structure has the extruded side members F with the end members G which also are of the same transverse cross section and which are similarly abutted together along oblique end portions at H.

At these abutting end portions at 45 degrees, the interior frame members F and G may be Welded together or otherwise connected together to form an interior rectangular form which is removable from the exterior rectangular frame.

The cross sections are best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Referring to the cross section of the exterior extruded members A and C in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, there is a side wall structure having an outwardly extending transverse structure 21 covering the wall at the plaster line indicated at 22 in FIG. 3.

The flange 21 has a vertical portion 23 which terminated at the inwardly curved quarter circular portion 24.

The quarter circular portion 24 has an interior at side 25 to be positioned against the wall 22, and this has a groove or elongated recess 26 in which may be placed a rubber gasket or seal member indicated at J in FIG. 3.

The extruded side members A may also have interior or inwardly extending structures 27 and 28 which form a box 29 having an entrance slot 30.

i The box 29 may receive rod or angle bar members to hold the corners E together in lieu of welding or soldering.

It will be noted that the cross section of both the end members C as well as the long side members A are the same, and they both have the same box structure 29 in which an angle bar may be inserted for holding the corners together.

Adjacent the inner end 31 of the walls 20 of the long and short members A and C is a transverse internally extending ange 32 which has spaced elongated slots 33 with semi-circular ends as indicated at 34 through which project the arms 35 of the spring clip members K.

These spring clip members K are positioned alterantely on opposite sides of the structure as shown in FIG. 2, and the slots 33 are similarly arranged.

The arms or legs 35 of the spring clips have out-turned end portions 36.

These end portions serve to engage and lodge against the semi-circular ends 34.- of the slots 36 when the interior structure F-G is drawn inwardly as indictaed by the arrows 37.

If it is desired to entirely remove the interior structure F-G from the external mounting frame B, the legs 35 are pressed together by the fingers so that the outturned ends will clears the ends 34 of the slots which will permit the entire interior structure to be removed and replaced by another structure or another design of the interior diffuser structure F-G.

The legs 35 are integrally connected at their base by the coils 3S which are wrapped around the shank or base of the -screw 39 having the enlarged head portion or washer 40.

The screw 39 having llister slotted portions 41 is of a metal cutting variety, and it may be screwed directly into the side base walls 42 of the interior frame structure FG.

If desired, the screw may be encircled by a spacer sleeve 43 1shown in FIG. 2.

The interior frame members F and G also have the vertical base structure walls 42 which at their outer ends have the out-turned flanges 44.

These anges carry the in-turned angle members and 61, the in-turned end portions 62 of which form a channel 63 opening into the enlarged elongated recesses 64.

The enlongated recess 64 receives the triangular shaped head 65 of the gasket I, the web of which extends through the opening 63 and which has a flat sealing gasket portion 66.

This flat sealing gasket portion may extend the full length of the members A `and C of the exterior fixed frame and F and G of the interior removable frame.

The outside faces `67 of the edge box structures 60 and 61 should -closely fit into and abut the inside faces 68 of the quarter cylindrical portions 24 with the seal 66 serving to close the space 69 left between the outer edges of the internal frame F-G and the external frame A-C.

Looking at FIG. 1 normally, there should be no substantial visible gap at the meeting lines 70 and 71.

Between the walls 42 of the longitudinal members F are closely positioned the plates 90, 91 and 92 which carry and are spaced apart by the oblique bale members 93 and 94.

The bales are positioned in the air channels 95 and 96, and they alternately are turned in opposite directions from row to next adjacent row or from channel 95 to next adjacent channel 96 in opposite oblique directions so as to give a directional eifect to the air which passes in through the channels 95 and 96.

Although only four channels are shown, it is obvious any number of channels may be employed in side by side relationship, and the battles may be turned in the same direcion in pairs or alternately in opposite obliquities from channel to channel.

In one preferred form, the middle plate 92a is extended outwardly as indicated in FIG. 3a to terminate in the T-head 97.

The passages on one side of the central plate 92a may be turned obliquely in one direction, and those on the other side may be turned obliquely in an opposite direction.

The T-head 97 which may extend the full length of the diffuser construction as shown in FIGS. l and 2 will have the side flanges 98 extend laterally so that they will obstruct or extend over at least 50% and desirably 60 to 80% of the channels 96a but terminate short of the next plate 92a as shown in FIG. 3.

The outer face 99 should be ilush with the outer face of the flange 44 of the interior frame structure F-G.

These plates 90, 91 and 92 with the spacer oblique veins 93 and 94 are held tightly together between the walls 42 by the through rods or studs 100.

These studs or rods 100 extend entirely through the walls 42 and the plates 90, 91 and 92 and terminate in the projecting elements 101 which are preferably slotted to receive the split washers 102.

This construction is best shown in separate view of FIG. 3b which shows the three-quarter circular washers 102 having the internally extending tongues 102 which engage in the peripheral slots 104 of the rod 100 inside of the head 101.

These slots 104 on each end of the rod 100 should be set so that they will be accessible when substantial pressure is placed on the side plates 42 on the outside to press the assemblage 40-90-9149243-94 together so that the clips or washers 102 may then be slipped in the grooves 104 and any resultant expansion will result in a tight lodgement between the assembled elements.

These rods 100 may extend through any number of plates 90-91-92 and any number of channels 95 and 96, and they will eliminate varying compressions due to screw connections where screw bolts are substituted for the rods.

In the alternative construction of FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the interior frame `structure F and G and the exterior frame structure A and C will be the same except for the replacement of the quarter cylindrical section 24 of FIGS. 1 to 4 by the `straight angle member or outside lange member 23 with the quarter cylindrical portion 24 and the slotted portion 25-26 being omitted.

The flange 23 will then terminate in the transverse edge 105 which will be inside of the face 44.

This outer structure is shown by itself in FIG. 5 and it will be noted that the channels 29 receive an angle member 106 to hold them together which is punched into position by .the ypressed in portion 107.

Such an angle member is shown in separated view in FIG. 5a which shows in separated view the angle member 107 and the indented portions which press against the facers 108 and hold the members firmly together.

It is obvious that the applicants have provided a simple structure all of extruded base materials which is readily applicable to various widths and lengths of elongated air diffusers and air outlets and which permit a removable core structure.

Referring to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 the corresponding parts as .shown in FIG. 4 are indicated by the same numerals which respectively, however, are primed in FIG. 8 or are provided with the superior 2 in FIG. 9 orare provided with superior 3 -in FIG. 10.

In FIGS. 8 and 9 .the front of the diffuser will project slightly in front of the wall or ceiling line 22 or 222. The same gasket indicated at J in FIG. 4 may be engaged in the opening 64' and 642. The gasket 200 which may also be included in the slots 26 of FIG. 4 may be utilized to give a better seal in respect to the wall.

The side wall members 20', 202 and 203 may be attached `by screws 201 to the conduit end 202.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and l0 there is an actuating member 203 placed in one of the extreme side passageways 95', 952 or 953 provided with an actuating tiexible lcable connection 204 extending to the damper 205 at 206.

It will be noted that the passageways 96 and 95 extend substantially up to the surface 44 of the diffuser of FIG. 8. In FIG. 9, however, they are substantially recessed inside of the face 207 in a wall formed by the oblique side wall as 208. IThe central partition 210 is then lprovided with a transverse baffle 211 which extends partly over the central front passageways 962 and terminates before the outside front passageways 952.

In this type of device the baffles 93 and 94 may be all turned in the same direction or have the same obliquity of opposite sides of the central partition 210 or if desired they may have opposite Obliquity indicated in FIG. 4.

The relative arrangement of the baffle 211 in FIG. 9 as partly obstructing the passageways is also indicated in FIG. 3a.

In the alternative embodiment of FIG. 10 the wire clips K3 have offset or lbent-out portions 212 which permit the wire clips K3 to be more closely mounted and yet extend out to a wider width to control the attachment of the elongated diffuser.

The outlet mount of the diffuser of FIG. 10 is of similar construction to that shown in FIG. 6 and the gaskets I may be engaged in the channels 643 and are not shown in FIG. 10.

It will be noted that the flow passages 213, 214, 215, 216, 217 and 218 are also recessed below the flush face 219 of the diffuser and the well at the bottom of which they are positioned is formed by the oblique side walls 220.

The outlet ends of the passagewrays 213 to 218 are covered by the oblique baifl'es 221 and 222, 221 extending over the passageways 213 and 214 and partly over the passageway 215.

The baie 222 extends over the passageways 216, 217 and partly over the passageway 218.

In respect to FIG. 11 there is shown alternative arrangements of oblique baffles 221 and 222.

FIG. 11a shows a single bafe 223 and three passageways.

FIG. 11b shows two baies 224 and six passageways.

FIG. 11C shows three bafes 225 and nine passageways.

FIG. 11d shows four baies 226 and twelve passageways.

It will be noted that in FIGS. 1() and 11 the oblique baffles all extend in the same direction and terminate below the ush face 219 of the diffuser.

In FIG. 12 the passageways may extend in both directions.

FIG. 12a shows two bafes 227 in opposite oblique directions with six passageways.

FIG, 12b shows two battles 228 in one direction and one baffle 229 in the opposite direction with nine passageways.

FIG. 12C shows two baffles 230 in one direction and two baffles 231 in the opposite direction with twelve passageways.

FIG. 12d shows three baffles 232 in one direction and one baffle 233 in an opposite direction with twelve passageway/s.

All of the loblique baies of FIGS. 11 and 12 extend from the bottom of the Well to the outlet face of the elongated narrow passageways to adjacent the ush face 219 of the difuser.

As many changes could 4be made in the above elongated air diifuser, .and many widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matt-er contained in the above description shall be nterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, what is claimed is:

1. A rectangular diffuser for mounting in a recess of a wall or ceiling of a room comprising a xed outer rectangular frame and a removable telescoping diffuser carrying core, each of said frame and core having parallel spaced end and parallel spaced side members extending into said recess, said frame having an outwardly extending peripheral mounting tlange and an inwardly directed core-locating flange formed as integral extrusions adjacent the bottom edge of said end and side members thereof, a wall portion depending from said mounting flange forming a recess, said core having an outwardly extending peripheral flange formed as an integral extrusion adjacent lthe bottom edge of said end and side members thereof and adapted to abut the mounting flange of said frame and be received within said recess, a plurality of V-shaped spring mounting clips mounted on the side members of said core, inwardly directed extensions formed on the upper inside faces of said frame side members, slot means formed in said extensions adapted to receive said clips to support said core, and a plurality of diffuser vanes mounted on said core.

2. A diffuser as set forth in claim 1, and further including integral gasket retaining means formed on the core peripheral flange, a non-metallic gasket received in said gasket retainer means, whereby said gasket is interposed between said core peripheral ange and said corelocating flange of said frame.

3. A diffuser as set forth in claim 1, wherein a rod is provided extending between the side members of said core and said diffuser vanes are car-ried by said rod.

4. A diffuser as set forth in claim 1, and further including integral receptor channels on the inner faces of said side and end members and generally L-shaped connector means received in said channels to interconnect said side and end members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,861,659 11/ 1958 Hagerty 189--76 2,865,277 12/1958 Howe 98-40 2,907,260 10/1959 Davies 98-40 2,983,214 5/1961 ODay 98-40 2,983,535 5/1961 Henning 98-114 3,012,494 12/ 1961 Drummond 98-40 3,064,550 11/1962 ODay 98--114 ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Examiner. 

1. A RECTANGULAR DIFFUSER FOR MOUNTING IN A RECESS OF A WALL OR CEILING OF A ROOM COMPRISING A FIXED OUTER RECTANGULAR FRAME AND A REMOVABLE TELESCOPING DIFFUSER CARRYING CORE, EACH OF SAID FRAME AND CORE HAVING PARALLEL SPACED END AND PARALLEL SPACED SIDE MEMBERS EXTENDING INTO SAID RECESS, SAID FRAME HAVING AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PERIPHERAL MOUNTING FLANGE AND AN INWARDLY DIRECTED CORE-LOADING FLANGE FORMED AS INTEGRAL EXTRUSIONS ADJACENT THE BOTTOM EDGE OF SAID END AND SIDE MEMBERS THEREOF, A WALL PORTION DEPENDING FROM SAID MOUNTING FLANGE FORMING A RECESS, SAID CORE HAVING AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PERIPHERAL FLANGE FORMED AS AN INTEGRAL EXTRUSION ADJACENT THE BOTTOM EDGE OF SAID END AND SIDE MEMBERS THEREOF AND ADPATED TO ABUT THE MOUNTING FLANGE OF SAID FRAME AND BE RECEIVED WITHIN SAID RECESS, A PLURALITY OF V-SHAPED SPRING MOUNTING CLIPS MOUNTED ON THE SIDE MEMBERS OF SAID CORE, INWARDLY DIRECTED EXTENSIONS FORMED ON THE UPPER INSIDE FACES OF SAID FRAME SIDE MEMBERS, SLOT MEANS FORMED IN SAID EXTENSIONS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID CLIPS TO SUPPORT SAID CORE, AND A PLURALITY OF DIFFUSER VANES MOUNTED ON SAID CORE. 